Positive and negative mood states do not influence cross-modal auditory distraction in the serial-recall paradigm

The aim of this study was to examine whether positive and negative mood states affect auditory distraction in a serial-recall task. The duplex-mechanism account differentiates two types of auditory distraction. The changing-state effect is postulated to be rooted in interference-by-process and to be automatic. The auditory-deviant effect is attributed to attentional capture by the deviant distractors. Only the auditory-deviant effect, but not the changing-state effect, should be influenced by emotional mood states according to the duplex-mechanism account. Four experiments were conducted to test how auditory distraction is affected by emotional mood states. Mood was induced by autobiographical recall (Experiments 1 and 2) or the presentation of emotional pictures (Experiments 3 and 4). Even though the manipulations were successful in inducing changes in mood, neither positive mood (Experiments 1 and 3) nor negative mood (Experiments 2 and 4) had any effect on distraction despite large samples sizes (N = 851 in total). The results thus are not in line with the hypothesis that auditory distraction is affected by changes in mood state. The results support an automatic-capture account according to which the auditory-deviant effect and the changing-state effect are mainly stimulus-driven effects that are rooted in the automatic processing of the to-be-ignored auditory stream.

Regulation of Mindfulness-Based Music Listening on Negative Emotions Related to COVID-19: An ERP Study

The current study aimed to explore the behavioral and neural correlates of mindfulness-based music listening regulation of induced negative emotions related to COVID-19 using the face–word Stroop task. Eighty-five young adults visited the laboratory and were randomly assigned to three groups: a calm music group (CMG: n = 28), a happy music group (HMG: n = 30), and a sad music group (SMG: n = 27). Negative emotions were induced in all participants using a COVID-19 video, followed by the music intervention condition. Participants underwent the face–word Stroop tasks during which event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded. The N2, N3, P3, and late positive component (LPC) were investigated. The results showed that calm music and happy music effectively regulate young adults’ induced negative emotions, while young adults experienced more negative emotions when listening to sad music; the negative mood states at the post-induction phase inhibited the reaction of conflict control in face–word Stroop tasks, which manifested as lower accuracy (ACC) and slower reaction times (RTs). ERP results showed negative mood states elicited greater N2, N3, and LPC amplitudes and smaller P3 amplitudes. Further studies are needed to develop intervention strategies to enhance emotion regulation related to COVID-19 for other groups.

Responses to social evaluative stress in regular cannabis smokers

Background: Aspects of the canonical stress response differ in stimulant, opioid, and alcohol users relative to controls, and dysregulated responses to stress may contribute to continued use of these drugs. Little prior research has focused on stress responses in regular cannabis smokers. We assessed responses to a standardized laboratory social stress assay (the Trier Social Stress Task; TSST) in regular cannabis smokers (CANs) compared with controls (CONs). Methods: Healthy, non-treatment-seeking adult CANs (⩾4×/week; smoking cannabis as usual) and demographically matched CONs completed the TSST. Outcome measures were subjective mood, heart rate, and salivary cortisol. Results: Nineteen CANs (1 female) and 20 CONs (2 female) participated; groups were matched on trauma exposure, sex, race, and age. CANs smoked cannabis 6.4 ± 1.1 days/week. Eight CANs and one CON smoked tobacco cigarettes daily. Overall, the TSST produced expected increases in anxiety, negative mood states, cortisol, and heart rate. CANs had blunted subjective response to stress relative to CONs, but they did not differ in physiological (cortisol and cardiovascular) stress responding. Conclusion: These results indicate that CANs have blunted mood responses to social stress, but normative physiological stress responding. Observed differences could be due to residual effects of cannabis, reluctance to endorse negative mood states, or to issues related to identifying (i.e., emotional identification) or feeling (i.e., interoception) stress-related affective states. Further research is warranted to characterize the mechanisms of these differences and assess implications for daily functioning and treatment outcomes.

Imagination, anxiety, and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Imagination is relevant in many aspects of our lives, and has been associated with creativity and overall cognitive development, yet imagination may also have a dark side. In two studies we examined the link between imagination, anxiety, and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic. US college students (N = 101, Study 1) and participants from an international community sample (N = 61, Study 2) were tested around the time that rates of COVID-19 cases were escalating. Across both samples, we found that spending more time in one’s imagination was associated with elevated levels of anxiety. Furthermore, frequency of imagination interacted with loneliness in predicting changes in anxiety during, compared to before the pandemic. Specifically, lonely people who spent more time imagining experienced the largest increases in anxiety during, compared to before the pandemic. In Study 1 valence of imagination and changes in anxiety were also moderated by feelings of loneliness, although this effect was not replicated in Study 2. Results indicate that at least some features of imagination, particularly how much time people spend in imaginative states, may be associated with negative mood states, such as feelings of anxiety. Implications and future directions are discussed.

COVID-19 Lockdown Worries About the Virus and Finances

Worries about getting the virus and worrying about finances have been associated with negative mood states including anxiety and depression during COVID-19 lockdowns. In this Survey Monkey study conducted during a COVID-19 lockdown (N= 260 respondents), 88% reported worrying about getting the virus and 72% worrying about their finances. Correlation analyses suggested that worries about the virus and about finances were related to each other and were, in turn, positively related to scores on scales measuring COVID-related stress, negative mood states including anxiety and depression, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and posttraumatic stress symptoms. These problems were common to both types of worries as was the lack of health activities including exercise, self-care, and touching partners and children. Some findings were unique to each of the worries. Worrying about the virus was related to being active on social media, connecting with friends, and housekeeping and paperwork. Worrying about finances was correlated with caregiving, unemployment, less schooling, and alcohol use. The results of this survey are limited by the self-reported data from a non-representative sample that is cross-sectional. Nonetheless, they highlight the negative effects of worries about the virus and about finances during a COVID-19 lockdown.

Feeling Isolated and Lonely During Covid-19 Lockdown

Isolation and loneliness have been associated with negative mood states, sleep disturbances and health problems. People experiencing pandemic lockdowns are susceptible to feelings of isolation and loneliness. In this Survey Monkey study conducted during a COVID-19 lockdown (N= 260 respondents), 81% reported feeling isolated and 68% feeling lonely. Correlation analyses suggested that feeling isolated and lonely were related to each other and were, in turn, negatively related to health practices scale scores and positively related to scores on scales measuring COVID-related stress, negative mood states including anxiety and depression, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and posttraumatic stress symptoms. Analyses of variance revealed significant differences between isolated and non-isolated groups as well as between lonely and non-lonely groups on these measures. Only a weak correlation was noted between living alone and loneliness, suggesting that feelings of isolation and loneliness extended to those living with others as well. Positive correlations between both feeling isolated and lonely and time on Facebook and gaming suggested that these activities did not compensate for their isolated and lonely feelings. Feelings of isolation and loneliness and their associated problems also increased across the lockdown survey period. The lack of touch and exercise suggested that those activities might have alleviated the negative feelings and associated problems. The results of this survey are limited by the self-reported data from a non-representative sample that is crosssectional. Nonetheless, they highlight the negative effects of isolation and loneliness during a COVID-19 lockdown

Feeling Isolated and Lonely During Covid-19 Lockdown

Isolation and loneliness have been associated with negative mood states, sleep disturbances and health problems. People experiencing pandemic lockdowns are susceptible to feelings of isolation and loneliness. In this Survey Monkey study conducted during a COVID-19 lockdown (N= 260 respondents), 81% reported feeling isolated and 68% feeling lonely. Correlation analyses suggested that feeling isolated and lonely were related to each other and were, in turn, negatively related to health practices scale scores and positively related to scores on scales measuring COVID-related stress, negative mood states including anxiety and depression, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and posttraumatic stress symptoms. Analyses of variance revealed significant differences between isolated and non-isolated groups as well as between lonely and non-lonely groups on these measures. Only a weak correlation was noted between living alone and loneliness, suggesting that feelings of isolation and loneliness extended to those living with others as well. Positive correlations between both feeling isolated and lonely and time on Facebook and gaming suggested that these activities did not compensate for their isolated and lonely feelings. Feelings of isolation and loneliness and their associated problems also increased across the lockdown survey period. The lack of touch and exercise suggested that those activities might have alleviated the negative feelings and associated problems. The results of this survey are limited by the self-reported data from a non representative sample that is cross- sectional. Nonetheless, they highlight the negative effects of isolation and loneliness during a COVID-19 lockdown.

Research on the Correlation between Trait Mindfulness and the Emotional Mood

The aim of this study was to confirm if there was a correlation between trait mindfulness, negative mood states, and stress. Our study is based on the assumption that practicing mindfulness did have the efficacy and ability to regulate negative emotions and thoughts produced by negativity-inducing external stimuli. A hundred and fifteen individuals (M age = 32.17 years, SD = 8.21, 59 males and 56 females) mostly from Beijing and Shanghai completed a series of measures, which included the Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), the Profile of Mood States-Brief Questionnaire (POMS-B), and the Stress Self-Perception Scale. After analyzing the collected data with SPSS 22.0, results showed that trait mindfulness has a significant relation with both negative mood states and stress, the relation being negative mood states and stress having a negative correlation to mindfulness and vice versa. This study verified the ability of mindfulness to stabilize and regulate negative emotions like depression and indicated the importance of practicing mindfulness as a way to cope with negativity-inducing stimuli and associated thoughts and emotions. Limitations and future research directions are discussed.